Unauthorized Access to Japan's Government Solution Service (GSS) Exposes 246,000 Personal Records via VPN Flaw
Japan's Digital Agency has disclosed that its Government Solution Service (GSS) was compromised through unauthorized access that exploited a vulnerability in VPN equipment used for remote maintenance.
Attackers gained entry by targeting the VPN device employed for external support operations, leading to the compromise of maintenance accounts. Evidence indicates the intrusion began around late May 2026.
On June 25, 2026, monitoring systems detected unusual activity when a compromised account accessed a large number of files stored on GSS servers. Subsequent investigation with external partners confirmed the breach on July 9.
Some files may have been exfiltrated, potentially exposing 246,000 personal records. These include approximately 189,000 entries related to staff from related agencies and civil servants, plus 57,000 records concerning businesses and individuals involved in associated operations. The data encompasses names, email addresses, telephone numbers, and residential addresses collected during official duties.
The agency responded on July 9 by disabling the compromised accounts and blocking all external communications. Specific details about the VPN vulnerability remain undisclosed.
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